Tonight’s Evening Brief is brought to you by the Ottawa Economics Association (OEA). Join the OEA for an in-depth discussion on how Canada can achieve inclusive economic growth. Sessions will explore the gender wage gap, strategies for financial inclusion, inclusive tax policy and the progressive trade agenda.

Good evening to you.

The Lead:

We begin today with a doubling down. That’s what Jody Wilson-Raybould did today when asked about her controversial reaction to the Colten Boushie verdict, saying a federal justice minister should be responsive to Canadians who speak out and protest perceived injustices in the legal system. She defended last week’s comments on Twitter, which came after Saskatchewan farmer Gerald Stanley, 56, was acquitted of second-degree murder in the shooting death of Boushie, 22, a member of Red Pheasant First Nation.

“As a country, we can and must do better,” Wilson-Raybould tweeted, prompting charges from opposition MPs and legal experts alike that she was straying too far into the independent territory of Canada’s judicial system.

It would be “deeply concerning” to have an attorney general who does not acknowledge the Canadians speaking out about a perceived injustice, she said today. “We have elevated this discussion to a place where it needs to be, because we can always improve the justice system.”The Canadian Press reports.

In Canada:

Jagmeet Singh said today the process of the two-week trial of Gerald Stanley didn’t do anything to address concerns about systemic racism in Canada’s justice system. The NDP leader’s remarks are his first on the matter since publishing a tweet early Saturday morning, following news the Saskatchewan farmer had been found not guilty by an all-white jury in the killing of Colten Boushie, a young Indigenous man. Beatrice Britneff reports.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau will introduce the next federal budget on Feb. 27 as the country faces persistent uncertainty around trade and competitiveness. With the future clouded by such unknowns, private-sector experts will press Morneau to keep his fiscal powder dry when they gather later this week for their annual pre-budget meeting. Morneau is to sit down Friday in Toronto with leading economists at a roundtable that typically includes about a dozen experts from commercial banks, think tanks and trade associations. The Canadian Press has that story.

The government’s representative in the Senate is pushing for a set timeline in the Senate for debating and voting on Bill C-45, the cannabis bill, raising concerns about partisan heel-dragging. Sen. Peter Harder also threatened that if an agreement on the bill’s timely passage isn’t reached soon, he would move time allocation. He introduced a motion today stating Senators would “make a decision on second reading of Bill C-45 on or before Thursday, March 1” to send it to committee. That committee would then have to report back to the Senate by Thursday, April 19. “I have some concern that partisan politics could affect our proceedings.” That story from Kyle Duggan.

Canada’s two provincial NDP premiers will not attend this weekend’s federal party convention in Ottawa. The absence of British Columbia Premier John Horgan and Alberta Premier Rachel Notley comes amidst mounting tensions between Alberta and British Columbia over the future of the proposed Trans Mountain pipeline. Kelsey Johnson reports.

With or without them, the federal party might find itself debating whether to adopt a number of policies anathema to the Alberta NDP and the West, including whether to adopt the Leap Manifesto that divided the party at the last convention and whether to oppose the Trans-Mountain pipeline. Those are a few of the possibilities off the massive list of proposed policy resolutions the federal NDP released today, ahead of its policy convention in Ottawa this weekend. Kyle Duggan has the details.

Ethics commissioner Mario Dion said he was only “thinking out loud” when he suggested to members of parliament last week that he could be granted the power to ban media from reporting on his office’s investigations. In an interview with CBC’s As It Happens Monday, the recently appointed watchdog insisted he “never recommended” he be allowed to impose publication bans and the subject only came up because of an MP’s question about information leaked to reporters. Dion said he “believes strongly in the role of the media” and confirmed he will not pressure parliament for the ability the control what the media publishes. Britneff’s up at bat again with this one.

The federal government is looking for a supplier to provide “meals and snacks” for asylum seekers at the St–Bernard–de–Lacolle border crossing in Quebec. That’s according to a tender notice posted on the government’s buy and sell website by the Canada Border Services Agency and a request for proposals. Janice Dickson has the details.

Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland announced Tuesday that the federal government will contribute $12 million to help rebuild areas liberated from the Islamic State in Iraq. The funding will go toward rebuilding roads, hospitals and government buildings in Iraq, according to a release from Global Affairs. The funding is also intended to help law enforcement and women’s participation in rebuilding the community. Dickson has those details as well.

The Trudeau government is seeking nearly $173 million to help ‘stabilize’ the accident-prone Phoenix pay system. Treasury Board President Scott Brison tabled the latest supplementary estimates Monday, asking Parliament to approve the $172.5 million for the troubled pay system. This is on top of $873 million funding for severance payouts for public servants and a shortfall in the military’s disability insurance plan. More from Kathryn May.

McPhedran forging ahead with support for Senate staffers harassed on the job (CP)
Iran calls professor’s death in prison a suicide; take a harder line, Frum urges government (CP)
Kim Campbell’s dress code for female news anchors: no sleeveless attire (CP)
NAFTA talks moving “too fast” to make progress, Canadian official says (CP)

Internationally:

FBI Director Chris Wray upended the White House’s timeline about when it learned of domestic abuse allegations leveled against disgraced aide Rob Porter. Wray testified today that the FBI repeatedly briefed the White House on its investigation into the aide last year, despite how the White House has presented their timeline. Sarah Sanders says they’re both telling the truth. Riiight. Because that’s how it works…

CNN also reports that Porter was involved in serious discussions to be promoted when he abruptly resigned from the White House last week amid allegations that he abused his two ex-wives. His anticipated elevation further highlights how top White House officials were willing to overlook indications from the FBI that there were potential abuse allegations in his background in exchange for professional competence in a tumultuous West Wing.

So did Trump have a message for victims of domestic violence today when asked by reporters? Nope. (Though, to be fair, it’s not clear he heard the question).

Asked if perhaps things should have been handled differently, John Kelly, Trump’s chief of staff said no: “It was all done right.”

For a second consecutive year, President Donald Trump is trying to drastically reduce or eliminate federal support of cleanups for iconic U.S. waterways including the Great Lakes. The Associated Press reports.

In Israel, police recommended today that Benjamin Netanyahu be indicted on bribery and breach of trust charges in a pair of corruption cases, dealing an embarrassing blow to the embattled prime minister that is likely to fuel calls for him to step down. Netanyahu angrily rejected the accusations, which included accepting nearly $300,000 US in gifts from a pair of billionaires. He accused police of being on a witch hunt, vowed to remain in office and even seek re-election. AP reports.